Australia Faces Injury Concern as Matthew Short Suffers Muscle Strain
Australia’s camp has been hit with an injury scare ahead of a crucial Champions Trophy match. Opener Matthew Short is struggling with a muscle strain, raising doubts about his availability for the remainder of the tournament. This may force the reigning ODI champions to make a change at the top of the order for the semi-final.
Short sustained the injury while fielding against Afghanistan on Friday. Despite the discomfort, he still opened the innings alongside Travis Head. However, his discomfort was evident, as he seemed more focused on finding boundaries rather than rotating the strike.
He was eventually dismissed for 20 off 15 balls, contributing to a solid 44-run opening stand with Head before rain forced the match to be abandoned.
With three points, Australia advanced to the semi-finals as the top team from Group B based on net run rate. They are set to face either India or New Zealand in the knockout stage.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, but Australian captain Steven Smith is not optimistic about Short’s quick recovery before then.
“I think this injury will trouble him. I saw him today (during the Afghanistan match), and he wasn’t moving well at all. I don’t think he’ll recover in time for the next match,” Smith said.
If Short is ruled out, Australia could turn to Jake Fraser-McGurk as an opening replacement. They have additional squad options, and all-rounder Aaron Hardie could also be considered for the role.
Short’s absence could slightly weaken Australia’s spin attack. Against Afghanistan, his off-spin was highly effective, conceding just 21 runs in seven overs.
Injuries have already taken a toll on Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign. Mitchell Marsh (back), captain Pat Cummins (ankle), Josh Hazlewood (hip), and Mitchell Starc (ankle) are all struggling with fitness issues. Now, Short’s potential absence adds another setback for the team.
